The launch of the latest QS World University Rankings® sees 26 Canadian universities feature among the world’s best. This includes three top universities in Canada in the worldwide top 50, with a further 10 in the top 300. Read on for more information on the top universities in Canada this year, starting with the top 10.
1. McGill University
Holding on to the top spot among these top Canadian universities for the second consecutive year is McGill University, falling six places this year to rank 30th in the world. Located in Montréal, McGill has around 40,000 students enrolled, of which 25% are international. It has the highest number of Rhodes scholars and Nobel Prize winners among any Canadian university.
2. University of Toronto
The University of Toronto edges closer to its rival McGill, climbing two places this year to rank 32ndin the world. Located in Canada’s largest city, the university contributes CA$15.7 billion to the Canadian economy per year and is famed for its research innovations, including the discoveries of insulin and stem cells.
3. University of British Columbia
Up five places this year, the University of British Columbia now ranks 45th in the world and retains its position of third amongst the top universities in Canada. Located in Vancouver and Kelowna, the university’s student body of 61,100 includes 13,200 international students from 155 countries.
4. University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is up two places this year to rank 94th in the world. Located mainly in Edmonton, the university currently enrolls 38,700 students from 147 countries and has a major impact on the economy of Alberta, being the province’s fourth-largest employer.
5. Université de Montréal
Consistently the highest-ranked francophone Canadian university, the Université de Montréal is placed 126th in the world this year. One of Canada’s major research centers, it has almost 67,000 students, including 9,300 internationals.
6. McMaster University
Retaining its position of joint 149th in the world this year (alongside the US’s Emory University),McMaster University is located in Hamilton, Ontario, on a scenic 300-acre campus, and is particularly renowned for its medical school.
7. University of Waterloo
Ranked joint 152nd this year with IIT Bangalore, the University of Waterloo is also located in Ontario. It’s a member of the U15 group of research-intensive Canadian universities, and is particularly famed for its cooperative education (co-op) programs.
8. University of Calgary
Up one place in the top 10 and now ranking within the global top 200 at joint 196th (with Sweden’s Stockholm University), the University of Calgary is the birthplace of a range of important inventions, including the neurochip.
9. Western University
Previously called the University of Western Ontario, Western University is ranked 198th this year and is located in London (not the UK one!), Ontario. It has an enrolment of about 28,400 students, representing 117 countries around the world.
10. Queen's University
Ranked joint 223rd in the world, Queen’s University is located in Kingston, Ontario and is one of Canada’s oldest institutions, established in 1841 – 26 years before Canada itself was founded. The university holds more than 3,500 acres of land throughout Ontario.
The remaining top universities in Canada…
11. Simon Fraser University – ranked 226th in the world.
12. Dalhousie University – ranked joint 283rd in the world.
13. University of Ottawa – ranked joint 291st in the world.
14. University of Victoria – ranked joint 325th in the world.
15. Laval University – ranked 372nd in the world.
16. York University – ranked 451-460 in the world.
17. Concordia University – ranked 461-470 in the world.
18. University of Saskatchewan – ranked 471-480 in the world.
The following three universities are ranked in the 501-550 range, and joint 19th in Canada (click here for more information):
=19. Université du Québec – ranked 501-550 in the world.
=19. University of Guelph – ranked 501-550 in the world.
=19. University of Manitoba – ranked 501-550 in the world.
22. Carleton University – ranked 551-600 in the world.
23. Université de Sherbrooke – ranked 601-650 in the world.
=24. Memorial University of Newfoundland – ranked 651-700 in the world.
=24. University of Windsor – ranked 651-700 in the world.
26. Ryerson University – ranked 701+ in the world.
Top universities in Quebec
Quebec is Canada’s largest province, with the second-largest population. French is the official language and the region’s largest city, Montréal, is home to four of the top universities in Canada, including the highest-ranking Canadian university this year.
1. McGill University
Montréal-based McGill University has overtaken the University of Toronto to be the highest ranking university in Canada once again, ranked at 24th in the world. Founded in 1821, McGill has international students from 150 countries and has been voted first in Canada among medical-doctoral universities for 10 consecutive years.
2. Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is one of Canada's major research centers, allocating nearly $524 million to studies conducted in more than 150 research centers as of 2011. It ranks 115th in the world and 5th in Canada this year, and has an international community of over 7,000 students.
3. Laval University
Based in Quebec City, Laval University ranks at joint 324th in the world this year, and is the oldest center of education in Canada and the fourth oldest in North America. It was also the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French.
4. Concordia University
Ranked 411-420 in the world, Concordia University in Montréal has been steadily rising in the world rankings in recent years.
5. Université du Québec
Ranked 431-440 in the world, Université du Québec has made a good leap from its ranking of 501-550 last year, placing 17th among the top universities in Canada.
6. Université de Sherbrooke
Based in the city of Sherbrooke, the Université de Sherbrooke is ranked at 601-650 in the world this year and 24th in Canada. It was established in 1954 as a French-speaking Catholic university in a region that was principally English-speaking.
Top universities in Ontario
The most populous of all Canadian provinces, Ontario is home to 40% of Canada’s entire population and 11 of the top Canadian universities. Two of the top universities in Canada are found in the national capital, Ottawa, and four in the country’s largest city, Toronto.
1. University of Toronto
Ranked 34th in the world and second in Canada this year, the University of Toronto is known for its work in literary criticism and communication and theory, as well research innovations, including being the birthplace of insulin and stem cell research.
2. McMaster University
In the city of Hamilton, McMaster University ranks joint 149th in the world, and is named after the Honorable William McMaster, a prominent Canadian Senator and banker who bestowed C$900,000 (US$682,000) for the founding of the university.
3. University of Waterloo
Ranked 152nd in the world this year – 17 places higher than last year – the University of Waterloo is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada. It’s found in the city of Waterloo, and lays claim to having Canada’s leading psychology department, based on research citations.
4. Western University
Otherwise known as the University of Western Ontario, Western University is ranked 192nd in the world this year and is known for its medicine, science and business courses, with its largest faculty being the social sciences.
5. Queen’s University
Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario, is ranked 206th in the world this year, and is spread across more than 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) of land throughout Ontario.
6. University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa, based in Canada’s capital city, is ranked joint 284th in the world this year alongside Australia’s Curtin University, and comes 13th among top Canadian universities.
7. York University
Another of the top Canadian universities based in Toronto, York University is ranked 441-450 in the world this year and 18th in Canada.
8. University Of Guelph
The University of Guelph, based in the city from which it takes its name, is ranked 471-480 in the world and 20th in Canada.
9. Carleton University
Based in Ottawa, Carleton University is ranked 501-550 in the world this year, and 21st in Canada.
10. University of Windsor
In the city of Windsor, Canada’s southernmost city, the University of Windsor is ranked 651-700 in the world and 25th in Canada.
11. Ryerson University
Ryerson University, in downtown Toronto, is ranked 701+ in the world rankings this year and 26th in Canada.
Top universities in British Columbia
Canada’s westernmost province, British Columbia is known for its outstanding natural beauty. It is one of Canada’s most mountainous regions and is home to the largest ski resort in North America, making it a popular choice among students keen on snowsports. It’s also home to several of the top universities in Canada.
1. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia ranks 50th in the world this year, retaining its place as the country’s third-highest ranked university. It has almost 60,000 students, of which almost 12,000 are international, at its campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna.
2. Simon Fraser University
Ranked 225th in the world rankings, Simon Fraser University places 11th among top Canadian universities. Located to the east of Vancouver in Burnaby, it’s named for Simon Fraser, a North West Company fur trader and explorer.
3. University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, ranked joint 319th in the world, is located in Greater Victoria, the metropolitan area of the provincial capital of Victoria. It is noted for its courses in Earth and ocean sciences, fine and performing arts, engineering, and law.
Top universities in Alberta
Alberta is the most populous ‘prairie province’ in Canada, and no less mountainous than British Columbia to its west. This province is home to two more of the country’s leading universities: the University of Alberta in the provincial capital, Edmonton, and the University of Calgary in the province’s largest city.
1. University of Alberta
Ranked 4th in Canada and joint 96th in the world this year, the University of Alberta is a major economic driver in the region and is particularly well-respected for its arts and humanities courses.
2. University of Calgary
Ranked joint 204th in the world, the University of Calgary is the birthplace of significant inventions such as the neurochip. Among its notable alumni is the current Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.
Other top universities in Canada
Canada is one of the largest countries in the world, offering a huge array of choice and diversity. Beyond the provinces covered above, four more top Canadian universities are featured in the world rankings:
1. Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is ranked 12th in Canada and joint 277th in the world this year.
2. University of Saskatchewan
Located in Saskatoon in the central prairie province of Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan is ranked 451-460 in the world.
3. University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba is located in Winnipeg’s largest city and is ranked 551-600 in the world this year.
4. Memorial University of Newfoundland
Ranked 601-650 in the world, Memorial University is the largest university in Atlantic Canada.
